Mail-matter-marking machine.



.No. 657,939. I Patented Sept. l8, I900. F. G. JAHN.

MAIL MATTER MARKING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 8, 1893. Renewed Jan. 16, 1900.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet I.

WITN SSES:

. \NVENTOR rm A i/imwflw BV No. 657,939 Patented Sept. [8, 1900. F. G. JAHN.

MAIL MATTER MARKING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 8, 1898. Renewed Jan. 16, 1900.) No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES: x26 5% N0. 657,939. Patentd Sept. l8, |900.. F. G. JAHN.

MAIL MATTER MARKING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 8, 1898. Renewed Inn. 18, 1900.)

(No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 3.;

WITNE ES: INVENTOR awmb m: wows PETERS cc, wovuumu. wAsHmcnom u c No. 657,936. Patented Sept. l8, I900.

F. s. JAHN.

MAIL MATTER MARKING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 8, 1893. Renewed Jan. 16, 1900.) (No Model.) I4 s'heets -sheet '4.

nWIIlllll h w q z& i WITNESSES: INVENTOR M%6%M4Q g Q g 5/0 No. 657,939. Patented Sept. 18, I900.

. F. G. JAHN.

MAIL MATTER MARKING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 8, 1893. Renewed Jan. 16, 1900.) (No Model.) I4 Sheets--Sheet 5.

ATTOR N EY YIRS co, Moroumo mswmnou o c No. 657,939. Patented Sept. I8, 1900..

F. G. JAHN. MAIL MATTER MARKING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 8, 1893. Renewed Jan. 16, 1900.) (No Model.) l4 ShaetsSheai 6 WITNESSES:

Patented Sept. l8, I900.

F. G. JAHN.

MAIL MATTER MARKINGMACHINE.

(Application filed May 8, 1893. Renewed Jan. 16, 1900.)

I4 Sheets-Sheet 8.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

No. 657,939. Patented Sept. l8, I900. F. G. JAHN.

MAIL MATTER MARKING MACHINE.

(Application filed Ma 8, 1893. Renewed Jan. 16, 1900.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 9.

a I U Wsss: 5i fi u v morz N0. 657,939. Patented Sept. l8, I900. F. G. JA'HN.

MAIL MATTER MARKING MACHINE.

(Application filed'May 8, 1893. Renewed, Jan. 16, 1900A, (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet m.

WITNESSES: %NV TOR ATTORNEY A Patented Sept.'I8, l900.,

F. G. JAHN.

MAIL MATTER MARKING MACHINE.

' (Application filed May 8, 1893. Renewed Jan. 16, 1900.)

(No Model.)

I4 SheetsShe et ll.

J-ZI

l lllll/l/ll/l III/l2 WITNESSES: 4M6. M1. 051,4. FM.

A Pat ented Sept. l8, I900.

F. G; JAHN.

MAIL MATTER MARKING MACHINE. (Application filed Mag 8, 1893. Renewed Jan. 16, 190 0.)

I4 Sheets-Sheet l2-.

INVENTOR ma Ncnms PETE No. 657,939. Patented Sept. l8, I900.-

- F. a. JAHN.

MAIL MATTER MARKING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 8, 1893. Renewed Jan. 16, 1900.) (No Model.) I4 Sheets$heet l3.

IINVENTOR I ATTORNEY m: NORRIS puns co, FMOYO-LIYHQ, WASHINGYON. n. c.

MAIL MATTER MARKING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 8, 1893. Renewed Jan. 18, 1900.)

(No Model.)

Patented Sept. l8, I900. F. G. JAH N.

l4 Sheets-Sheet l4.

m. 2%. AOL, 9a. m. fiM/L INVENTOR 2 ZZKQA:

ATTORNEY THE Norms =nzws co, wmo-uwo.v mswmmom q, c

NITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

FREDERIOK e. JAHN, E NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MEsNE AssIeN: MENTS, TO THE INTERNATIONAL POSTAL SUPPLY COMPANY on NEW YORK, OF NEW YORK.

MAlL-MATTER-MARKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,939, dated September 18, 1900.

Application filedMay 8, 1893 Renewed January 16, 1900. Serial No. 1,685. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. JAHN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at the city of New York, (Brooklyn,)

county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVIail-Matter-Marking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to print- IO ing and marking machinery, and particularly to that class'of such machinery now known as mail-marking or postage-stamp-canceling machines.

The objects of the present improvements r5 are to generally improve the construction and operation of such machines, to adapt them to greater speed without sacrificing their efficiency, to increase the range of adjustments of their operative parts, to better adapt them for use where the rapid accumulation of dust interferes with their operation, and to make the machines entirely self-contained and capable of operation in any desired place without requiring special arrangement or change in the power of driving the same.

To this end the invention consists in the hollow stand supporting the machine and also inclosing the motor for driving the machine, in the oil-trough or gearing-housing in 0 which the connections for positively driving the operative parts of the machine are in closed and protected from the dirt accumt1- lating from handling mail-matter and also in which a supply of oil is kept for continuously oiling the connected gearing, in the manner of supporting all the operative parts of the machine from below and arranging said operative parts a distance above the bed-plate, so that the accumulation of dirt will not inter- 0 fere with such operative parts, and in the positive driving connections for the operative parts of the machine, in contradistinction to the use of belts, whereby all the operative parts move in unison and positively carry the letters or other matter through it, with means by which the driver, also positively driven, is connected friction-ally with the gearing of the machine proper, so that should any stoppage occur such stoppage will be permitted 5:: without affecting the motor or injuring the matter causing the stoppage.

The invention furthermore consists in the improved separator-roll and plate and the means for adjusting them simultaneously and independently of one another, in the feedrolls arranged to engage with the lower portion only of the passing mail-matter, in contradistinction to feed-rolls of sufficient length to engage the entire surface of the mail-matter, in the manner of supporting the letter strip or feeler and in its construction and co action with the clutch of the printing-roll, in the construction of the printing and platen rolls, in the inking device and its various adjustments, and in the details of construction of the various parts of the machine and the stacker.

As a better understanding of the improvements will be had from a detailed description thereof, such description will now be given, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a practical embodiment of the invention.

driving-shaft.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section of the upper part of the driving-shaft and its bearing.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the extreme upper end of the driving-shaft with the removable engaging studs of the upper mechanism shown in position in section. Fig. 5 is a bottom View and section, on the line f Fig. 3, of the universaljoint between the portions of the driving-shaft, and Fig. 5

is a section on the line 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the upper portion of the machine, the main portion of the stacker being omitted on account of lack of space, the parts bein enlarged over Fi s. 1 and 2.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the machine looking in the same direction as in Fig. l, the main portion of the stacker being omit- Fig. 8 is a ted for a like reason as in Fig. 6.

side elevation looking from the opposite side of the machine to that of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 1 just below the base-plate, showing the top of the machine-stand in plan and the gearing for the mechanism that is supported above the base-plate. Fig. 10 is a vertical crosssection taken on the line 10 10 of Fig. 7, showing the initial feed-rolls, the separator-rolls, and the inner feed-belt roll and their driving connections. Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional elevation of the separator-roll and its support and the separator-plate. Fig. 12 is a horizontal section on the line 12 of Fig. 11 of the separator roll and plate. Fig. 13 is an elevation of one of the separator-roll skeleton frames, with its hub. Fig. 14 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 15 is a vertical section of one of the feed-rollers,with a stationary plate 29. Fig. 16 is a horizontal section of the printing and platen rollers and adjacent devices, showing also a portion of the stacker. Fig. 17 is an end elevation, partlyin section, showing particularly the printing and platen rolls and the inking-rolls. Figs. 18, 19, and 20 are enlarged horizontal sections in different positions of the trip or finger and its operating connections with the clutch of the printing-rolls. Fig. 21 is a bottom view of the sustaining-bar and trip orfinger, with its adjacent connections supported by said bar. Fig. 22 is an inner face view of the sustaining-bar and the trip or. finger, with the undcrlying feed-roll. Fig. 23 is an outside elevation of a portion of the sustaining-bar, showing particularly the stop-pawl of the clutch and the spring-pressed latch for the trip or finger. Figs. 2a and 25 are sectional details on the lines 2a 25 of Fig. 22 of the sustainingbar and spring-pressed latch, with the trip or finger in different positions. Fig. 26 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional elevation of the printing and platen rollers and the counter, showing a slightly-modified form of the platen-roll, the latter being shown in its outward positions, to which it is adapted to yield during the passage of a very thick letter; and Fig. 26 is a plan of a portion of the counter-actuating device. Fig. 27 is a sectional elevation of the inking device, its holder, and the adjustable stop. Fig. 28 is a sectional plan view of the ink-fountain. Fig. 29 is a cross-section of a portion of the inkfountain, taken on the line 29 of Fig. 27, showing particularly the means for adjusting the feed of the ink. Fig. 30 shows by side and front elevation details of the locking-spring and rear of the adjusting-nut for the stop of the inking-device holder. Fig. 31 is a plan view of the stacker, with the adjacent portions of the inking device and the printing and platen rolls, the stacker being foreshortened for lack of room. Fig. 32 is a rear side elevation of the stacker looking from the left of Fig. 31. Fig. 33 is an elevation of a portion of the stacker looking from the right of Fig. 32. Fig. 34 is a longitudinal section on the line 34 of Fig. 31. Fig. 35 is a vertical section 011 the line 35 of Fig. 34. Fig. 36 is a vertical section on the line 36 of Fig. 34.

The improved mail-matter-marking ma chine A is support-ed by and some of its parts contained within a stand 13, arranged to rest upon the floor. The stand is hollow from its base upward, and its upper end carries an oil-trough and gearing-housing B, the upper end of which forms the immediate support for the base-plate A of the marking-machinc proper and for the stacker S. The hollow stand B is arranged to support and wholly in-- close a driving-motor C, an electric motor being shown and preferred, access thereto through the stand being had by an opening in said stand closed by a door or side plate 13*. This hollow stand wholly inclosing the motor is important in this class of machines, owing to the enormous accumulation of dust and foreign substances incident to the handling of mail-matter,which would injure the motor, and thereby interrupt the operation of the machine and delay the marking of the mailmatter. The stand, which forms a rigid support for the machine, occupies a comparatively-small floor-space, which in post-offices is a great desideratum, and the motor being within the stand the entire machine and its driving-motor are self-contained, obviating, as will appear hereinafter, all outside drivingbelts leading from some exterior motor that are liable to displacement and stretching and which might obstruct proper command of the machine on all of its sides and enabling the machine to occupy any point found most convenient without making it necessary to ac commodate the drivingmotor thereto or it to such motor. The motor 0 is preferably sup ported and connected to the stand by a gimbal C, as in Fig. 1, allowing a certain amount of vibration thereof without affecting the stand and also obviating the necessity of lining it up with respect to the driving-shaft.

The front of the stand B is provided with a plate carrying a startingand stopping mechanism for the motor, which in this case is represented by a rheostat C and a switch C", suitable electric connections being provided between a proper generator and the motor, such connections without the machine coming through or along the floor.

The motor 0, Fig. 2, is connected with a vertical driving-shaft D, extending centrally of the stand, which shaft, with the motorshaft, is shown in three sections; but this is not essential. The lower and upper sections D D are connected to the intermediate section or shaft D by universal joints (Z, which render it unnecessary to mount the motor with any great particularity and also prevent the vibrations thereof when running at its usual high speed affecting the upper operating parts of the machine proper. Tho universal joints each consist of a flanged hub (1, connected to the lower ends of two of the sections D D and a flexible disk (Z preferably of leather, clamped to the upper ends of the sections D D between a collar (1 having prongs engaging the disk and a washer and nut d screwed onto the ends of the sections, as in Fig. 3. The flexible disk is in turn secured around its edge to the flange of the disk by aring d screwed to the flange, as in Fig. 5, which rigidly connects the sections of the shaft together, while the flexibility of the disk allows one shaft-section to move out of alinement with respect to the other, and it also absorbs the vibrations that might otherwise be transmitted to the mechanism of the machine proper. The upper flanged hub (Z is firmly secured to the shaft-section D so that so far as the sections D and D are concerned they turn in unison. The other flanged hub at the lower end of the shaft D is only frictionally connected thereto, as by a divided portion having a clamping-plate d in Fig. 5, with an internal fiber-bushing d encircling the shaft at that point. This frictional connection between the motor-shaft section D and the other section of the shaftit might be located at some other convenient pointin effect allows the operative mechanism of the machine pr0per,the parts of which are all positively connected together, to be frictionally connected to its driver, so that should any matter get into the machine liable to or aetually clogging it such mechanism will thereby stop, while the motor continues its motion, and thus obviate all danger of damaging the matter that has caused the clog. The importance of this provision for the stoppage of the operative mechanism is great in handling mail-matter,whieh frequently incloses irregular articles that would break through or rupture its envelop or cover and become lost in course of transit through the mail.

When the motor 0 is supported in a gimbal O, asin Fig. 1, the lower universal-joint connection d in the driving-shaft will not be used, as the upper one will suffice for the purpose of accommodating the upper shaft-section to the motor-shaft section without careful alinement; but when the lower universal joint is also used, in addition to the upper one, the support of the motor will be rigid with the stand, as by an upper bearing 0 (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2,) and in such case the frictional joint between the two sections of the shaft, as in Fig. 5, will be located, for convenience, in the upper universal joint.

The upper end of the shaft or shaft-section D is mounted in a bearing D extending upward into the trough or housing B, preventing the leakage of the oil therein down within the stand B, and to permit-the temporary removal, as hereinafter explained, of the upper parts of the machine from gear with the driving parts the extreme upper end of the shaft-section is provided with one member of acoupling consisting of a pair of teeth 6, arranged to engage a pair of studs 6, forming the other part of the coupling, which are on the main drivnggear 80 of the machine.

(See Fig. 4.) The trough or housing Bforms a top to the hollow stand B and closes its up- .per end, as in Fig. 2, and the base-plate A,

resting upon the upper edge ofthe trough, forms a top thereto, protecting the oil therein and by its downward projection into the trough, as in Fig. 10, preventing its waste. Said base-plate may be secured in place in any proper manner; but as shown it is hinged to the trough, as in Figs. 8 and 9, by a rod ct, passing through lugs a on the plate and trough. This hinging of the plate to its immediate support, such as the trough, permits the base-plate to be turned up vertically, as in Fig. 2, from its normal horizontal position to gain access to the trough and to the gearing carried by the base-plate, as will be hereinafter explained, and the movement of this plate may be limited by a chain (t the parts being so arranged that when the plate is in its vertical position the oil from the gearing referred to will drip back into the trough. When the plate A is down in its horizontal position, the parts 6 e of the coupling before mentioned are engaged, so that the motor is connected to drive the operative parts supported by said plate, and this coupling is so constructed as to permit the ready turning up of the base-plate into the vertical position and the uncoupling of the parts e 6 without disarranging any of the operative parts, and said parts 6 c are also arranged for immediate reconpling upon the return of the base-plate to its horizontal position. The base-plate A is form ed around its upper edge with a shallow gutter a guarded by a high flange, in which the dirt accumulating on the machine and base-plate may be brushed and collected for removal.

Referring now to the operative mechanism of the machine A, arranged above and supported by the base-plate A, said mechanism consistsinthepresentconstruction,primarily, of a supporting traveling belt or carrier for the mail-matter, feed-rolls for carrying the matter through the machine, a separator for separating individual pieces of matter from a quantity of such pieces, so that the matter will be insured passing one piece at a time through the machine, a printing or embossing device and its accompanying appurtenances for marking the matterpassing orin the act of passing through the machine, a trip, finger, or feeler determining by the present or presence of the matter to be marked the marking of such matter, and a stacker for assembling or taking care of the matter as it is delivered from the machine.

Near the right-hand end of the machine there is supported a traveling belt or carrier 20, stretched horizontally around a pair of rolls 21 22, the one roll 21 supported by bearings 23, bolted to the base-plate, and the other roll 22 by the separatorpillar 24 and the feedroll bearing 25, both also bolted to the baseplate. The bolts for the bearings 23 (see Fig. 7) pass through slots in the feet of the bearings, so that should the carrier become sagged the bearings may be readjusted to stretch the carrier. The two carrier-rolls 21 22 are similarly constructed and are formed by two heads separated by a sleeve 22 (see Fig. 10) and secured within a cylinder forming the periphery of the roll. The heads revolve loosely on journals formed by a crossrod 22, fixed in bearings 22 22, the one in the pillar 24 and the other in the feed-roll bearing 25, and oil may be supplied to said journals through a channel in the cross-rod opening into the space between the rod and the surrounding sleeve 22. These rolls 21 22 are set at an angle to the direction of movement of the matter through the machine, so that the belt or carrier, on which the letters to be marked are placed edgewise vertically, will tend to carry the letters toward one side of the machine in contact with the feed-rollers hereinafter described. The belt or carrier may be further supported and prevented from sagging by the weight of the mail-matter by an underlying idler-roll 29", supported in bearings in a bracket 29, extending from the separator-pillar 24:, and in a bracket 29 on the bearing 25. The entrance portion of the belt and its upper surface is continued in substantially the same horizontal plane and its surface enlarged by a table 26, extending laterally on both sides of the belt and also to the right when lookingat Figs. 6 and 7, which table protects the roll 21 and its bearin gs, provides an enlarged surface for resting matter thereon, and overlying a portion of the opposite longitudinal edges of the belt prevents the mail-matter from falling therefrom. This table 26 is supported by brackets 27, rising from the bearings 23 on opposite sides of the roll 21, and also carries a vertical back guard 28 and a front guard 28, confining the mailmatter to the belt, and the guard 28 aiding in directing it to the feed-rollers of the machine. The upper active surface of the belt or carrier is continued through the machine by a fixed plate 29, which serves as a guide for the bottom edge of the traveling matter, keeping itin position to pass through the machine and to be properly marked by the printing device.

The feed-rollers in the present machine are arranged at intervals along the path of the mail matter passing through the machine and at such distances apart that the mailmatter after once starting in its path will be constantly borne upon and carried forward by one or the other of the feed-rollers in succession. The feed-rollers are mounted with their axes vertical and engage the broad surface of the mail-matter; and it is to be noticed that as the bearings for the rollers are all below the lower edge of the matter its path is not obstructed by any overlying crosswise-extending framework or arms that might restrict the capacity of the machine to handle matter below a given height, there being no limit to such height in this construction. It

will also be noticed that the several rollers and other coacting devices are supported some distance above the base-plate, which provides a construction preventing the accumulation of dirt in proximity to operative parts, such dirt falling to the base-plate, where it will be less liable to interfere with the proper operation of the parts.

The initial feed-roller 30 and the supplementary roller 31 are supported from below by the roller-bearing 25, both at one side of the path of movement of the m ail-matter, and extend above the carrier 20 and overlap its back edge slightly. They are both preferably skeleton rollers covered with a ring of soft rubber, as in Fig. 10, and the roller 31 is formed by two separated sections, so as to lap the roller 30, a portion of which runs between the sections of said roller 31 This arrangement allows the active letter-engaging surface of said rollers to be more or less close together, while the rollers are com paratively large in diameter, and the overlapping feature prevents matter being accidentally drawn between them and out of its regular path. The hub of each of these skeleton rollers and their sections have a notch straddling a pin 30 in the spindle, (see Fig. 10,) the roller being held in place on the pin by a clamp-screw 30", screwed into the end of the spindle.

Directly opposed to the initial feed-roller 30 there is located the separatorroller 32, which rotates in a direction the reverse of the feed-rollers 3O 31, or against the direction of movement of the mail-matter and slightly slower in speed than said feed-rollers. Said roller 2 is divided into two separated sec tions, each formed by a skeleton roll covered by a rubber ring, as in Fig. 10. The separated sections of this roller 32 are pinned to a vertical spindle 33, carried by a bearing 3 1, which in turn is supported by a separatorplate 35. This separator-plate in the present embodiment serves two functions, the minor function of forming a side guard extending from the separator-roll to the pivot of said plate to keep the mail-matter in position on the plate 29 and the moreimportantfunction of forming a supporting means for the separator-roll and of limiting the exposure of the periphery of said roll, so that any undue separating or retarding action of said roll is prevented.

In the preferred construction (see Figs. 11 to 14:) each section of the roller 32 consists of a collar 19, having a flange at one end, the collar being pinned to the shaft 33, the ends of the pin projecting outward. On this collar is seated a brass cup or skeleton roll 18, carrying the rubber ring of the roller. The base of the cup has slots 17 to pass the projecting ends of the pin 17, and its surface is formed with opposite inclines 16 to pass below the pins, so that by turning the cup more or less 011 the collarit willbe securely clamped between the ends of the pin and the flange of the colla The forward end of the sepa- TltOP-pltli6 35, extending along one side of the path of the mail-matter, is carried by a vertical pivot 36, so that it and the separatorroller may be bodily adjusted to and from the feed-roller 30 to "ary the throat or entrance for the matter between said two rollers and also to adjust the separator-roller to effect the proper separation of the mailmatter into individual pieces, according as the parts may Wear and the varying conditions of the matterbeingfed into the machine maydetermine.

While it is possible to set the machine. and primarily the separator, to automaticallyseparate a miscellaneous mass of matterinto in dividual pieces for passage through the machine, it is often desirable when a large quantity of similar-sized matter is to be operated upon to set the separator especially for such matter, and hence provision is made for various adjustments of the separator plate and roller, as will presently appear.

The entrance end of the separator-plate is dividedinto fingers 37, one extendingbetween the two sections of the separator-roller, as in Fig. 11, and the other two fingers extending above and below the said roller. The bearing 34 for the roller-spindle 33 is carried by a horizontal rod 38, projecting from the rear of the separator-plate, and by a guide-pin 39. The outer end of the rod 38 is screw-threaded and engaged by a thumb-nut 40, that is confined in place by a shoulder on the bearing 34, entering a groove in the hub of the thumbnnt. When the nut is turned in one direction or the other, the bearing 34:, with the roller, is varied in its position with respect to the inner face of the separator-plate, the position of the nut being held by a spring-seated pin 9, engaging depressions in the nut, this adjustment primarily being to compensate for the wear of the roller.

The separatorblade and the separatorroller may be bodily adjusted mainly to compensate for the wear of the feed-roller 30 by a rod 41, (see Fig. 6,) the hooked inner end of which catches the hook of the center finger 37 of the plate, and its outer end passing through a bearing 42 is screw-threaded and engaged by a thumb-nut 4:3.

The separator plate and roller are held to duty against or toward the feed-roller 30 by a suitable spring, supplied in this case by a spring-blade etaginterposed between a shoulder 45 on the side of the printer-head stand +16 and one or the other of a number of notches or projections 47 on an arm projecting from the rear of the separator-blade. (See Fig. 12.) It is obviouslhat the location of the shoulder 45 and the notches 47 may be reversed. These notches being at diiterent distances from the pivot of the separator-plate enable the spring to be set to bear with more or less force against said plate, the adjustment of the separai or-plate and roller through the rod 41 and thumb-nut 43 being had in one direction against the force of said spring-blade.

Coacting with the feeding and separator rollr 1's and the traveling carrier there is provided a deflecting-plate 48, fixed to a flange of the bracket 29 in a position vertically and angularly above the carrier or belt 20, with its inner end immediately adjacent the separator-roll 32 and lending to direct the letters toward the throat between the feed-roller 30 and the separator-plate 35 and roller-32. The vertical outer surface of this plate 48 is serrated or ratchet-toothed, as in Fig. (l, which teeth engage the leading edges of the mass of letters placed on the belt 20 and prevent their tipping over and falling onto their broad faces on the belt. The angle of the plate 48 with its toothed surface also forms the mass of letters into a condition better adapted to cause the rearmost letter against the feedroller 31 to be fed forward between the roller 30 and the separator-roll 32. This deflectingplate 48 carries a yielding pressing-finger -9, mounted on a pivot to rock in an opening about central of said plate, a spring 50, connected to the heel of the finger, tending to hold it projecting across and over the carrier or belt 20, as in Fig. 6. Then a mass of letters are placed on the belt and pressed with their leading edges against the sustaining plate 48, the moving belt also tending to hold the letters in this position, the spring-finger will have yielded, as indicated by the arrow thereon in Fig. 6, to a point flush with the vertical surface of said plate 48, and as the mass of letters gets less and less in being fed onward by the feed-rollers the curved end of the pressing-finger commences to press the lessening mass of letters toward that side of the belt 20 occupied by the feed-rollers, the travel of the belt also aiding in carrying the letters in the same direction, and in this manner the extreme end of the finger forms a rest or stop to the broad side of the letters when in its outer position, shown, and prevents their falling broadside onto the belt. Shortly after the leading edge of the letter gets between the feed-roller 30 and separator-roller 32 its lower edge leaves the travel-- ing belt or carrier 20 and passes onto the stationary plate 29and thence bet-ween a pair of oppositely-yielding feed-rollers 51 52,which are rotating at a higher speed than the feedroller 30, and as the roller 30 and separatorroller 32 are not in firm biting contact they will not obstruct the quicker movement of the letter as soon as it is gripped by the rollers 51 52. This faster speed of said rollers 51 52 aids in obtaining a separation between the individual pieces of matter and insures the feed of the matter in separate pieces for presentation to the printing devices hereinafter described. The leading edge of the letter next passes between another pair of feedrollers 53 54:, rotating at the same speed as the rollers 51 52, and thence between the printing or marking roll 55 and platen-roll 56, with its lower edge still supported or in position to be supported by the fixed plate 29. Each of the rollers 51, 52, 53, and 54 is comparatively short. in height, but sufficient to press upon the lower broad surfaces of the letter immediately above the fixed plate 29 and move it positively onward, and said rollers, with the exception of the roller 54, are mounted in a swinging journal 57, which permits them to yield laterally according asthe passing letter may vary in thickness, the said rollers being held in biting position, limited in the case of the rollers 51 52 by their journals striking the sides of the fixed plate 29, as best seen in Fig. 15, by suitable springs 58, connected to the heels of the swinging journals, and to fixed pins, such as the pin 58, Fig. 6, projecting from some convenientv part of the framework. The rollers, as in Fig. 15,

are of in verted-cup shape, so that the journal therefor may extend upon and within the roller to take the thrust in a proper manner and also protect its hearing from dust. The journal of the roller 52 is pivoted to the upper portion of the feed-roller bearing 25, the swinging journal of the roller 51 is pivoted to the stand 46, and the journal of the roller 53 is pivoted to a shaft fixed in the upright 60, while the roller 54 is mounted in fixed hearings in the stand 46. In addition to the feed-rollers 51 and 52 the passage of the letter is guarded on one side by the separator-plate 35 and upon the other side by a fixed plate 61, rigidly secured to the upright 60, the entrance end of which plate is flared, as in Fig. 6, and the forward end terminating adjacent the feed-roller Immediately adjacent the feed-rollers 53 54 and just in advance of the printing-roll 55 and platen-roll 56 there is located a trip, feeler, or finger 2, arranged to be operated, rocked, or moved to one side by the letter that may be present in the machine. In the present construction (see Figs. 16 and 18 to 25, inclusive) this finger 2 projects in the path of the moving letter, so as to be struck and rocked by the leading end of the letter passing between the feed-rollers 53 54 and just before reaching the bite of the printing and platen rollers 55 56. This finger 2 projects through an opening 15 in aremovable trip-sustaining bar 62,that is fast by screw-bolts 62 to a raised portion on the stand 46 with its inner end immediately above the roller 54,the inner face of which bar 62 provides a guiding edge for the letter moving forward between the feed-rollers. The finger 2 is pivoted about centrally to one end of a bell-cran k 3, that is pivoted to said bar 62 at its under side, and the opposite end of said finger is connected by link 1 to the free end of a pawl 4, also pivoted to said bar 62. The pawl is arranged to project into the path of a projection on the printing-roll 55 to hold such roll against rotation. When the finger is rocked by contact of or with the letter, the pawl 4 is also rocked away from said projection 5 on the printing-roll, so that said roll, no longer restrained, will immediately commen cc to rotate, so that when the leading edge of the letter reaches the bite of the printing and platen rolls said letter will be marked in passing between said rolls. The printingroll 55 also carries a cam 6, which when the printing-roll is permitted to rotate bears against an arm of a lever 7, whose opposite end earries a friction-roll bearing against the free arm of the bell-crank 3. The lever 7 is fast to the upper end of a spindle 7, extending upward in hearings in the stand 46, and just beneath the lever there is a retaining-pawl 11, hereinafter described, that is mounted loosely on said spindle. The lever 7 and the pawl are both held to duty and returned after each vibration by a U-shaped Spring 10, (see dotted lines, Fig. 26,) the legs of which enter holes in the lever and pawl. The rocking of the lever 7 by the action of said cam rocks said bell-crank 3 against the pressure of the spring Sand carries the finger 2, which is then in its rocked position, as in Fig. 19, inwardly away from the broad surface of the passing letter, as in Fig. 20. In moving to this latter position the finger 2, by reason of its linkage with the stop 4, is rocked on its pivot on the bell-crank 3 from the inclined position of Fig. 19 to the substantially-straight position of Fig. 20. The cam 6 is short enough to permit the lever 7 and bell-cran k 3 to return to their normal positions very quickly after the printing-roll starts to rotate. The bellcrankandits finger2donot,however,immediately return to such position because of the end of the finger 2 meeting the surface of the letter not yet entirely through the feed-roller 53 54; but the pressure of the spring 8 is such that immediately the rear edge of the letter then being printed upon, or just previously printed upon, passes the finger 2 the spring 8 will force the finger to its normal projecting position ready to be struck by the succeeding letter. In the inward or retreating movement of the finger the parts are so proportioned that the end of the finger will move backward in line with its normal position in the arc of a circle, and in so moving backward a projection on the top surface of the finger will strike the beveled end of and raise a yielding latch-pin 14, that is mounted in the bar 62. This latch-pin is so arranged and the projection on the finger is of such length that when the finger is in its normal position (see Figs. 18 and 24) ready to be struck by the letter its projection will not meet the latch, and hencewill be freely rocked by the letter. If, however, the finger has not fully returned to its normal position, as in Figs. 20 and 25, and a letter is forced against the finger or the broad surface of the letter whose edge has previously rocked the finger is still passing the point occupied by the finger and is bearing thereon with sufficient force as would ordinarily rock the finger, the projection of the finger in such case will meet the latch 14 and prevent the premature rocking of the linger, which would cause the printing-roll to rotate a second time for 

